Meet Thelma ~

I am a native and long-time resident of Northern California. I started painting in a garage studio in my early twenty’s and enjoyed it so much that I went back to school to study studio art and art history. I have continued attending art workshops and classes at local colleges and art centers on the West Coast since. My work has been shown in many venues throughout Northern California since the early ‘90’s. I am currently a member of The Artery, an artist cooperative in Davis, California, and Co-Manager of Arboretum Artworks, an artist collective also located in Davis.

The subject matter of my artwork is influenced by the textures found in nature and the environment, including the patina of buildings and other structures. These textures translate into my paintings through oil and cold wax as well as encaustics. With oil and cold wax, I mix pigment with wax and apply layer upon layer with a brayer, paint scraper, and many other tools. With encaustics, I heat a mixture of pigment, beeswax, and damar resin and apply it to a prepared stable surface. I then fuse the application to this surface with a heat gun or torch. Each of these processes lends itself to interesting texture and mark-making. My final paintings come to fruition only after repeatedly experimenting with layering, scraping, and mark–making.

I currently have a studio and gallery space at Arboretum Artworks in Davis, CA. Studio visits are welcome by appointment or open during the 2nd Friday Art About.

Inquiries about studio visits, commissions, or to acquire art can sent via email at ThelmaLW@gmail.com or cell phone at 530-220-6239.

Thank you,

Thelma